Descendants [H.S. & C.S.]

Chapter 16

The next morning, the sun shone over the rose garden on a breezy Family Day.

On the green lawn, Cole led a choir of students in singing "Be Our Guest" as a way to kick off the event. A student banner read Family Day! Goodness Doesn't Get Any Better. Some students and their families danced, while others enjoyed plates of every type of delicious food imagination from various tables and tents.

Harry grabbed a strawberry from a table as he, Calum, Michael and Justin stepped into the throng. Justin handed off Dude to Calum and ate strawberries he dipped in a lavishly flowing chocolate fountain.

The happy choir dispersed. Harry nibbled his strawberry and watched Cole join Luke and Ariana. They stepped under a stone archway and posed for the photographer.

"Oh! And by the way, I have a new boyfriend!" Cole told his parents.

They looked at him and gasped.

"I never wanted to say anything," said Ariana, "but I always thought that Ashton was a little self-absorbed. With a fake smile"—Ariana flashed a fake smile for the photographer and continued to speak through it—"a kind of kiss-up."

"Do we know your new boyfriend?" asked Luke.

"On the count of three," said the photographer. "One . . . two . . ."

"Sort of . . ." Cole said, waving at Harry, who waved back. "Harry!" he called to him.

"Three!" said the photographer.

Ariana's and Luke's frozen looks of shock were captured in the photo.

"Harry! Harry, I want to introduce you to my parents," he said, going over to him. They hugged. He turned to his parents. "This is Harry. From the island. My boyfriend."

"Hi," said Ariana, gawking.

"Hi," said Harry.

Luke waved.

"I was thinking maybe he could join us for lunch," said Cole.

"Of course," Luke said. "Any friend of Cole's—"

"Um, I actually came with my friends," said Harry.

"Well," said Ariana. "You should . . . invite them.

Ariana gazed past Harry at the boy's three friends. Michael was drinking directly from the chocolate fountain as Justin, his face smeared with chocolate, jumped up and down, giggling, and dipped more strawberries into the fountain. Calum bounced Dude up and down in his arms.

Ariana smiled kindly. "The more, the merrier!"

"Okay!" said Harry, smiling. "I'll go grab them." He turned to get his friends.

"How about a game of croquet before lunch?" asked Luke.

"Of course!" said Harry.

"Come on!" said Cole, high-filing his dad.

"Game on," said Luke. He laughed. Ariana smiled.

As Harry and Cole walked toward the croquet lawn, Ariana's and Luke's smiles vanished. Ariana nearly fainted, and Luke caught her.

Harry happily trotted toward his friends. Maybe we will have a nice time after all, he thought. He walked onto the lawn, picked up a croquet stick, and hit the ball. Student frolicked around him. Harry smiled at an older woman in a pale pink suit. Queen Dinah.

"Hello there," said Queen Dinah, strolling up to him with s smile.

"Hi," said Harry.

"Now, have we met?" asked Queen Dinah.